Injuries creating a Real issue for Madrid

INJURY-HIT European champions Real Madrid face Sevilla tomorrow in La Liga as they bid to keep their slim title hopes alive.

The side of Santiago Solari, pictured, in fourth, are level on points with their third-placed opponents, but 10 behind leaders Barcelona and five from Atletico Madrid. Failure to take three points against Pablo Machin’s side at the Santiago Bernabeu would likely see them fall further behind their Catalan rivals, who host Leganes on Sunday at the Camp Nou.

However, Real come into the game struggling with numerous injury problems throughout their side, low on confidence after a poor performance in a 2-1 win at Real Betis last weekend.

Forwards Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio will miss the game, while Karim Benzema broke a finger against Betis and is a doubt.

Midfielders Toni Kroos and Marcos Llorente will be absent, along with defender Jesus Vallejo and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

“We are not in a good place, let’s be honest, but we’re working hard,” midfielder Casemiro said.

“We need to improve and this club pushes you to get better. We are in the toughest league in the world, we need to show our rivals respect, but with hard work you always get results.

“We are going to keep working, show our grit and let’s see what we can do.”

Barcelona are looking to win their seventh consecutive La Liga match and must decide which of Ousmane Dembele or Philippe Coutinho joins Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi up top.

The South American duo have scored 31 goals between them this season, more than every other team in La Liga bar Sevilla and Celta Vigo, who have netted the same amount.

Dembele and Coutinho have been in mixed form this season but they are both looking good now, giving coach Ernesto Valverde a tough choice to make.

“He is a player who gave us a lot, who gives us a lot and who’ll have to give us a lot,” said Valverde of Brazilian playmaker Coutinho. “He has incredible quality.”

The Catalans have a clean bill of health with the exception of longterm absentee Rafinha Alcantara and defensive duo Thomas Vermaelen and Samuel Umtiti, with Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet forming an exceptional defensive partnership in their absence.

Second-placed Atletico will look to bounce back from their Copa del Rey elimination by Girona on Wednesday as they travel to bottom side Huesca tomorrow.